raison d'être

American  

[rey-zohn de-truh, re-zawn de-tr^uh] / ˈreɪ zoʊn ˈdɛ trə, rɛ zɔ̃ ˈdɛ trə /

noun

raisons d'être plural

1. reason or justification for being or existence.

   Art is the artist's raison d'être.

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raison d'être British  

/ rɛzɔ̃ dɛtrə /

noun

1. reason or justification for existence

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raison d'être Cultural  

1. A basic, essential purpose; a reason to exist: “Professor Naylor argues that in the nuclear age, infantry forces have lost their raison d'être.” From French, meaning “reason for being.”

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• raisons d'être
  plural

Etymology

Origin of raison d'être

Borrowed into English from French around 1865–70

Example Sentences

My raison d’etre for living is him, to take care of him, to protect him.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2025

So they feel like it is their signature, their raison d’etre.

From Slate • Mar. 28, 2023

“We will flourish until our raison d’etre for being people’s lawyers ceases.”

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2022

While the Echo quickly found its raison d’etre, I think the Astro will take a bit longer The Astro also has a split personality.

From The Verge • May 26, 2022

If they fail to reproduce their kind, they have failed in their purpose; they are unconsciously ruled by the philoprogenitive passion; it is their raison d'etre, for it they are fed, clothed, trained, bred.

From Captivity by Eyles, M. Leonora